Mastering the Secrets of Meditation Master Class

Meditation has long been incorporated into yoga practice as a powerful tool for mind, body and spirit. Coming soon to Radiant Yoga Marbella is The Secrets of Meditation – a master class on 9th December that sets out to explode the common myths about meditation, its practice and benefits. Prepare to be enlightened about one of the most effective practices you can adopt to enhance your daily life. Blog: Louise Cook Edwards

Leading the The Secrets of Meditation master class to be held from 4-6pm on Saturday 9th December at Radiant Yoga Marbella is Nina Phillimore, a certified instructor for the Deepak Chopra Meditation Foundation.

Drawing on the teachings of Deepak Chopra, one of the world’s greatest teachers of spiritual practices including meditation, in the two-hour long master class, Nina will be sharing with the students a wealth of experience in meditation and talking them through the major benefits of the practice to mind and body.

While people come to meditation for different reasons, including stress-reduction, or to control painful thoughts, improved concentration and expanded awareness, the benefits are tangible and proven at a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level.

Among the tangible physical benefits of meditation are the following: Relief from stress and anxiety (meditation mitigates the effects of the “fight-or-flight” response, decreasing the production of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline); decreased blood pressure and hypertension; lower cholesterol levels; more efficient oxygen use by the body; increased production of the anti-aging hormone DHEA and restful sleep.

At a deeper cellular level, meditation has been found to have positive effects on the neuroscience of the brain.Research has concluded that people participating in regular mindfulness meditation experience less anxiety, depression and pain. Meditation also helps control negative thinking and neuroticism. Research currently being carried out by neuroscientists into the positive effects of meditation has identified eight regions of the brain that are affected. Studies have concluded that meditation involves large-scale brain networks and multiple aspects of brain function.Meditation is said to improve emotional processing, higher self-acceptance and greater awareness of the present moment, or the “now”.

Nina’s Meditation Masterclass also includes practical tips on establishing a daily meditation routine. Among the recommendations are creating a designated meditation space or corner, scheduling the meditation at the same time each day, listening to guided meditations – such as those created by Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey; and adding your meditation to the most basic daily tasks such as shower, clean teeth, meditate and creating an acronym (SCM).She adds that it is better to start with a short meditation of ten minutes a day, and maintain this regularly until it becomes habitual, rather than extend the time.

Greatest Myths of Meditation

It is true to say that meditation can be shrouded in mystery, and for this reason Nina looks into some of the common myths surrounding this illuminating practice. Following are seven of the most common misconceptions around meditation, some of which Nina explores in the master class:

Myth #1: Meditation is difficult.

When you follow instruction, it is simple, and can be as straightforward as focusing on the breath or gazing at the flame of a candle.

Myth #2: You have to quiet your mind in order to have a successful meditation practice.

This is not the case. The aim is to become aware of the “gap” between your thoughts, and realize that your thoughts are separate from the eternal, infinite you.

Myth #3: It takes years of dedicated practice to receive any benefits from meditation.

Effectively, the benefits begin from the first session of meditation and with regular practice are both immediate and long-term.

Myth #4: Meditation is escapism.

The real value of meditation is not to tune out and get away, but to tune in to the Higher Self in order to expand your awareness and clarity and observe your own limiting beliefs and deal with emotional issues.

Myth #5: I don’t have enough time to meditate.

In essence, meditation connects us to the limitless and timeless realm of consciousness. Regular meditation leads to being more in “the flow”, and able to accomplish more while doing less.

Myth #6: Meditation is a spiritual or religious practice.

Meditation is free from the constraints of religion and helps to enrich our lives.

People can be disappointed if they do not see visions or enlightenment when they meditate. The real benefits come when we carry the stillness of our meditation with us into our daily lives, making us more creative, compassionate, centred and loving to ourselves and everyone we encounter.

Nina concludes the meditation master class with some pointers on how meditation can help manage the stress of holidays such as Christmas when we may need more assistance in dealing with emotional and practical issues.

Join the Meditation Master Class at Radiant Yoga Marbella
We will learn a simple but highly effective breathing meditation and a self-regulation meditation that will help you clear your mind and balance your body. These powerful techniques based on the teachings of Deepak Chopra are something you can do anywhere, at any time.Date: Saturday December 9th
Time: 16.00 – 18:00
Price: 25 euros